Robot cleaner system

Abstract

A robot cleaner station may include a housing, a seating assembly disposed in the housing and configured to accommodate at least a portion of a robot cleaner, the seating assembly including a base, a dust collector configured to collect dust inside a dust bin of the robot cleaner, a suction flow path configured to connect the dust bin of the robot cleaner to the dust collector, a dust collection motor configured to generate a suction force so that the dust inside the dust bin flows into the dust collector through the suction flow path, and an exhaust flow path configured to guide air discharged from the dust collection motor to a suction unit of the robot cleaner, the exhaust flow path being disposed in the base of the seating assembly.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A robot cleaner station comprising:
 a housing;   a seating assembly located in the housing, the seating assembly being configured to accommodate at least a portion of a robot cleaner, the seating assembly including a base;   a dust collector configured to collect dust inside a dust bin of the robot cleaner;   a suction flow path configured to connect the dust bin of the robot cleaner to the dust collector;   a dust collection motor configured to generate a suction force so that the dust inside the dust bin of the robot cleaner flows into the dust collector through the suction flow path; and   an exhaust flow path configured to guide air discharged from the dust collection motor to a suction unit of the robot cleaner, the exhaust flow path being located in the base of the seating assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The robot cleaner station of  claim 1 , wherein the robot cleaner is configured to be seated on an upper side of the base. 
     
     
         3 . The robot cleaner station of  claim 1 , wherein the seating assembly further includes:
 an agitator accommodation portion located in the base, the agitator accommodation portion being configured to accommodate at least a portion of an agitator of the robot cleaner, and   an exhaust port located at an end of the exhaust flow path, the exhaust port being located at the agitator accommodation portion.   
     
     
         4 . The robot cleaner station of  claim 3 , wherein the seating assembly further includes an inclined portion,
 wherein the robot cleaner is configured to move up the inclined portion when the robot cleaner enters the robot cleaner station, and   wherein the exhaust port is located under the inclined portion.   
     
     
         5 . The robot cleaner station of  claim 3 , wherein the agitator accommodation portion includes:
 a recess recessed in the base, the recess having the exhaust port located at one side thereof; and   a protrusion protruding from the base, the protrusion being configured to guide air discharged through the exhaust port to the suction unit of the robot cleaner.   
     
     
         6 . The robot cleaner station of  claim 5 , wherein, when the robot cleaner is seated on the base, the protrusion is located between a pair of wheels of the robot cleaner. 
     
     
         7 . The robot cleaner station of  claim 1 , wherein the exhaust flow path is bent at least once. 
     
     
         8 . The robot cleaner station of  claim 1 , wherein the exhaust flow path includes an exhaust port, and
 wherein the robot cleaner station further comprises a dust collection motor housing configured to accommodate the dust collection motor, the dust collection motor housing having a discharge hole located at a same height as a height of the exhaust port of the exhaust flow path, the dust collection motor housing being configured to guide air discharged from the dust collection motor to the exhaust port of the exhaust flow path.   
     
     
         9 . The robot cleaner station of  claim 1 , wherein the robot cleaner further includes a suction motor configured to provide a suction force to the suction unit of the robot cleaner, and
 wherein the suction motor is driven when the dust collection motor is driven.   
     
     
         10 . The robot cleaner station of  claim 1 , wherein the base further includes an inclined portion, and
 wherein the robot cleaner is configured to move up the inclined portion when the robot enters the robot cleaner station.   
     
     
         11 . The robot cleaner station of  claim 10 , wherein a front portion of the inclined portion is at a same height as a floor outside of the robot cleaner station. 
     
     
         12 . A robot cleaner system comprising:
 a robot cleaner, the robot cleaner including:
 a suction unit configured to suction air and dust; and 
 a dust bin configured to store the dust suctioned through the suction unit, and 
   a robot cleaner station located in a lower space of a structure including plumbing, the robot cleaner station including:
 a housing; 
 a seating assembly configured to accommodate at least a portion of the robot cleaner, the seating assembly being located in the housing; 
 a dust collector configured to collect the dust inside the dust bin of the robot cleaner; 
 a suction flow path configured to connect the dust bin of the robot cleaner to the dust collector; 
 a dust collection motor configured to generate a suction force so that the dust inside the dust bin of the robot cleaner flows into the dust collector through the suction flow path; and 
 an exhaust flow path configured to guide air discharged from the dust collection motor to the suction unit of the robot cleaner. 
   
     
     
         13 . The robot cleaner system of  claim 12 , wherein the structure including plumbing includes at least one of a water supply pipe and a drain pipe,
 wherein the robot cleaner station is located at a lower portion of the structure including plumbing.   
     
     
         14 . The robot cleaner system of  claim 12 , wherein the structure including plumbing comprises a cabinet, the cabinet including at least one of a water supply pipe and a drain pipe, and
 wherein the robot cleaner station is located at a lower portion of the cabinet.   
     
     
         15 . The robot cleaner system of  claim 12 , wherein the structure including plumbing includes at least one of a water supply pipe and a drain pipe,
 wherein the robot cleaner station is located at a lower portion of the structure and is spaced a predetermined distance from a floor.   
     
     
         16 . The robot cleaner system of  claim 15 , wherein the robot cleaner system is located at a toe space between the structure and the floor. 
     
     
         17 . The robot cleaner system of  claim 12 , wherein the robot cleaner station further includes:
 an accommodation space configured to accommodate the robot cleaner, the accommodation space being located on the seating assembly, and   an exhaust port configured to guide the air discharged from the dust collection motor to the accommodation space.   
     
     
         18 . The robot cleaner system of  claim 17 , wherein the robot cleaner further includes an agitator,
 wherein the robot cleaner station further includes an agitator accommodation portion configured to accommodate the agitator of the robot cleaner, and   wherein the exhaust port is located at the agitator accommodation portion.   
     
     
         19 . The robot cleaner system of  claim 17 , wherein the exhaust flow path includes a connection pipe having a first end communicating with the suction unit and a second end communicating with the exhaust port. 
     
     
         20 . The robot cleaner system of  claim 19 , wherein the connection pipe is configured to discharge air from the exhaust port.